This episode our snarky sisters continue with their review of the Overly Dramatic Saga of the People of Lindow Castle. . . AKA The Wildes of Lindow Castle series by Eloise James (which side note, really does read like a soap opera).
This second book in the series, Too Wilde to Wed, follows Roland "North" Wilde as he pursues his one true love, Diana, who happens to be his run-away fiancé from the first book. After he is ditched following an elaborate betrothal ball/party without even a note or explanation (how rude!) he inexplicably joins the army to go fight those pesky traitors in the Americas during the Revolutionary War. I guess he mentioned in passing once that he always wanted to be a soldier? I don't remember that part but otherwise there is no real reason for him, as heir to a powerful and important dukedom, to go join the army and risk his life. But I guess with like 12 younger brothers, there wasn't much of a risk of the dukedom bloodline dying out.
Anyhow, I digress. . .two years later, a veteran of war and suffering from some PTSD, he shows up home to find that Diana is now living at his family's estate and working in the nursery as nanny to his two-year old half-sister . . . and she also supposedly is the mother of their 4 year old love child as well? Although, the math doesn't add up and everyone within the family knows that isn't really North's child, everyone else in England (because this family is that popular in the tattle, scandal sheets) assumes North is the father. Eventually they make it to their happily ever after but a lot of unbelievable and questionable stuff happens along the way.
For instance:
Why can't redheads with freckles be duchesses? And why it is assumed (by the heroine herself) that this means she is unattractive? Isn't the current duchess a redhead?
Amy actually broke out her Google search to do some research and we are pretty sure you can't just give your title away to someone else. At least not back then. I mean. . .I guess when you are a Duke anything is possible but still. . . seems far-fetched and also, unnecessary.
Beth has to wonder, what is wrong with these Lindow men and their stalky vibes? North was . . .kind of a pervert. He ends up sneaking into the heroine's room while she is sleeping, taking off his pants, and getting uninvited into her bed. . .uh, squeeze me? Do we need to have a PSA moment on consent here?
And why, when she saw the consequences of what happened to her own sister, is this heroine jumping merrily into a physical relationship with this hero? Were people really that promiscuous back in the 1780s?
This book was full of rich, white, entitled people problems. . .you don't want to be a duke and duchess? With servants, wealth, huge mansion, and a professional chef to cater to your culinary whims? Oh it must be so hard (our snarky sisters say sarcastically and of course, snarkily). Geez, someone please give these two characters two tiny violins so they can play out their sad, sad little tune.
Overall, our snarky sisters rate this book a 1/5 stars. Not worth a re-read, and probably not even really worth a first read. . . unless you like to read books where the characters just constantly irritate you with their life choices for 400+ pages.
